UNB, Dhaka :
The European Union on Wednesday reiterated its position and explained why they are unable to send a full-fledged election observation mission hoping that there will be a “good, contested, free and fair” election in Bangladesh.
“I’m very happy that we’ve a good team of two experts,” EU Ambassador
to Bangladesh Rensje Teerink told reporters saying the two EU election experts will look into the whole electoral process and probably make some recommendations to their headquarters in Brussels.
She made the remarks after a meeting with the Election Commission where two EU election experts – David Noel Ward (team leader) and Eirini-Maria Gounari were formally introduced.
Teerink said, the EU is not sending a full-fledged observer mission due to time constraint but the visit of the two experts shows that the EU is very interested in elections in Bangladesh. “We’re following this very closely.”
Replying to a question, the Ambassador said it takes lot of preparation and the EU needs to start preparation at least six months in advance if they want to send a full-fledged observer mission.
“There is a lot of pressure and interest from all our partner countries to get election observation mission. So, the decision is made in headquarters based on prioritisation. We can’t honour all requests for observers. That’s the problem,” she said adding that there should not be read something into it.
Responding to another question, the EU envoy said it is very difficult for them to give suggestion on such a major undertaking but they have wished them (EC) best of luck because it is a very challenging and big operation (holding polls)with 104 million voters and 40,000 election centres.
The four-member EU team sat in the meeting to introduce the EU experts with the EC so that they can contact with it and start their job here, she said.
“We had a very good meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner and his colleagues,” Teerink said adding that the two experts will be here for 40 days.
She also said it is justified to send an expert mission to know what is going on here.
The European Union on Wednesday reiterated its position and explained why they are unable to send a full-fledged election observation mission hoping that there will be a “good, contested, free and fair” election in Bangladesh.
“I’m very happy that we’ve a good team of two experts,” EU Ambassador
to Bangladesh Rensje Teerink told reporters saying the two EU election experts will look into the whole electoral process and probably make some recommendations to their headquarters in Brussels.
She made the remarks after a meeting with the Election Commission where two EU election experts – David Noel Ward (team leader) and Eirini-Maria Gounari were formally introduced.
Teerink said, the EU is not sending a full-fledged observer mission due to time constraint but the visit of the two experts shows that the EU is very interested in elections in Bangladesh. “We’re following this very closely.”
Replying to a question, the Ambassador said it takes lot of preparation and the EU needs to start preparation at least six months in advance if they want to send a full-fledged observer mission.
“There is a lot of pressure and interest from all our partner countries to get election observation mission. So, the decision is made in headquarters based on prioritisation. We can’t honour all requests for observers. That’s the problem,” she said adding that there should not be read something into it.
Responding to another question, the EU envoy said it is very difficult for them to give suggestion on such a major undertaking but they have wished them (EC) best of luck because it is a very challenging and big operation (holding polls)with 104 million voters and 40,000 election centres.
The four-member EU team sat in the meeting to introduce the EU experts with the EC so that they can contact with it and start their job here, she said.
“We had a very good meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner and his colleagues,” Teerink said adding that the two experts will be here for 40 days.
She also said it is justified to send an expert mission to know what is going on here.
